Leg holder



' H. A. JQHNsToN Dec. 3o, 1 941.

LEG HOLDER v Filed Feb 11, 1941' INVENTR. PLA, dohnsfon.

Patented- Dec. 30, 1941 i Um'ilapj ljsTlr-eis 'Mer' OFFICE --LEG HOLDER 1 Y v Herbert A. Johnston, Anaheim, Calif. p Application February 11, 1941, serial No. 378,335 5 lclaims. (c1. 12s-s4) v This invention relates Vto l'egholders;

The general object of the invention is' to provide a novel adjustable leg holder for use by surgeons for holdingV a leg member in an 'adjusted position while an operation is performed.

vA more specific object of the invention is to provide a novel leg holder' including a, support for a leg holding member thereoniand wherein novel means is provided for adjusting the parts so that the correct relation is secured.

A more specific object ofthe invention is to provide a leg holder including a support member with a leg rest thereon and wherein the leg rest is pivoted to move across a scale member so that the adjusted position may be determined and the leg held in such position while a surgical operation is performed.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a front view of my improved leg holder.

Fig. 2 is a rear View of the leg holder in iull line position showing the device adjusted to support a left leg and the dotted line position shows the device adjusted to support a right leg.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation of the device shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the device as shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged section taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged section taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 7 is a reduced side elevation showing the device supporting a left leg.

Referring to the drawing by reference characters, I have shown my invention as embodied in a leg holder which is indicated generally at I0. The leg holder is adapted for positioning parts of the body correctly for certain surgical operations, as for instance in the fixing of hip fractures wherein a screw or other member is secured in the fractured bone to hold the parts together.

'Ihe device shown includes a base I I having an upstanding hollow pedestal I2 thereon. A post I3 is slidable and rotatable in the pedestal and is held in place by thumb screws I4 which pass through the pedestal and engage the post.

The post has an outwardly extending arm I5 integral with the upper end thereof and the arm at its outer end is provided with an upwardly directed shaft or pin I6. A link I1 is mounted 55 on the pin and is held in place by a fastening means such as a nut I8.'` At the outer endl of the" linkI provide a threaded shaft portion I9 on which a vertical support 2is`mounted. The support is held in place by fastening means such as a nut 2|.

At its upper end above the link I'I, the support includes an arcuate leg engaging member 22 and below the link I'I the support slidably receives a foot engaging member 23 which is held in place by a wing nut 24 which extends through a boss 25 on a loop member 26 which is slidable along" the support 20. The foot engaging member includes a heel receiving portion 2.

Mounted on the link I1 adjacent the support 20, I show a rotatable shaft 28 which is held in place by a nut 29. The shaft is mounted on a segment member 30 which includes angularly disposed members 3l and 32 and a lower scale member 33 having suitable indicia 34 thereon. A clamp member 35 is mounted on the support 20 and includes a slot 36 which receives the scale member 33. A wing nut 31 on the clamp member engages the segment scale member 33 when the support is swung to hold the support in various adjusted positions.

As shown in solid lines in Fig. 2, thev holder is arranged to support a left leg. The leg L, as shown in Fig. "I, engages the engaging member 22 and the foot engages the foot rest 23. Tape may be used to hold the foot F in place.

By shifting the holder to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 2, a right leg and foot may be supported.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that I have invented a leg holder which is highly efficient for its intended purpose.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a holder, a vertical post, a cupped leg support, means to pivotally mount the leg support on the post for movement about a horizontal axis, said horizontal axis beingparallel to the axis of said cupped support, a scale member including an index portion, means to mount said scale member with the index portion adjacent to the support and means on the leg support and rigid therewith to hold the leg support in adjusted position about its pivot.

2. In a leg holder, a post, a link pivotally mounted on said post, a cupped leg support mounted on said link for movement about a horizontal axis, said horizontal axis being parallel to the axis of said cupped support, a vertical shaft rigid with said link, a scale member on said shaft, and means on said support engaging said scale member.

3. In a leg holder, a pedestal, a post adjustably mounted on said pedestal, an arm on said post, a vertical pin on said arm, an elongated link pivoted on said pin, an elongated leg support mounted on said link for movement about a horisaid support engaging said scale for holding the support in adjusted position.

5. In a leg holder, a hollow upstanding pedestal having spaced supporting feet thereon, a post mounted to slide along and rotate in said pedestal, means to hold said post in adjusted position, said post having an arm at the upper end thereof and extending at right angles thereto, said arm having an upwardly directed supporting pin thereon arranged parallel to the axis of said post, a link pivotally mounted about a vertical axis on said pin, a leg support, means to pivotally mount said support on said link for movement about a horizontal axis parallel to the pedestal, said post having an outwardly extending arm at the upper end thereof, said arm having a vertical upwardly directed pin thereon, a link pivotally mounted about a vertical axis on said pin, a cupped leg support pivotally mountedV on said link for movement about a horizontal axis, said horizontal axis being parallel to the axis of said cupped support, said support including a leg engaging member, a foot engaging member adjustably mounted on said support, a shaft, said link having a vertical aperture rotatably receiving said shaft, a quadrant member on said shaft, said member including angularly disposed members, a scale connecting said members, and means on axis of said leg support, said support including an outwardly extending, upwardly directed, arcuate, leg receiving member, a foot engaging member slidable on the lower portion of saio support, means to clamp the foot engaging member in adjusted position on the support, a shaft, said link having a vertical aperture rotatably receiving said shaft, a quadrant member on said shaft, said member including a strip disposed adjacent to said support and a second strip arranged at an angle to the rst strip, an arcuate scale connecting said strips, a slotted member on said support and disposed to slidably receive said scale and means on the slotted member for engaging the scale for holding the support in adjusted angular position.

HERBERT A. JOHNSTON. 

